Parent Rebecca Steffes said school officials got information out as quickly as they had it. She said the school sent an email saying the mumps case is rare because the K4 student had received the first of two vaccinations.

“We’re not scientists,” Steffes said. “So you do the best you can. And at this point, all we have to do is keep an eye on our kids. And I know that the school and the nurses are doing a great job.”

Dr. Erin O’Tool of Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare said common mumps symptoms are low-grade fever, headache, muscle aches and pains. Another symptom, O’Tool said, is swelling of a child’s cheeks. Mumps can arise because children are not vaccinated or the vaccine isn’t always 100 percent effective.

“And so there are moments where the virus can infect kids who aren’t immunized against the virus yet and then because kids are kids the virus spreads very quickly between them,” O’Tool said.

The school and health officials are taking the mumps case very seriously because the virus can lead to deafness, meningitis and other serious damage.

Steffes said her children will continue to attend school.

“I make sure that my kids are feeling healthy,” Steffes said. “I know they’re up to date and keep an eye on things.”

Parents concerned their children might have the mumps should call ahead before bringing them to the doctor as the virus is highly contagious.